Expansible and contractile core for paper and similar rolls.



C. E. lVIlSER. EXPANSIBLE AND coNTRAcTlLE coRE FoR PAPER AND SIMILAR RoLLs. APPLICATION FlLED IAN. 30, 1914.

Lmx Patented Apm, 1915.

CHARLES E. MIISJER, 0F WATER'IOWN, NEW YORK.

EXPANSIBLE AND CONTRACTIILE CORE FOR PAPER AND SIMILAR ROLLS.

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To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, CHARLES F. Nilsen, of Watertown, in the county of Jefferson, 1n the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fxpansible and Contractile Cores for Paper and Similar- Rolls, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

is a full, clear, and exact description.

rIhis invention relates to certain improvements in expansible and contractile cores for paper and similar rolls involving the use of a plurality of cylindrical segments arranged about the axis of a central shaft carrying cams coperating with .suitable bearings on the segments for forcibly expanding the coreradially within the paper roll to frictionally lock said core to the roll so that the paper may be readily reeled thereon and therefrom. The main object is to standardize this class of cores so that duplicates may be supplied to the manufacturers and purchasers of the paper rolls for repeated use, thereby obviating the necessity of carrying a large stock of cores and also of re-transportation from purchasers to manufacturer and visa versa.

Another important object is to simplify the general structure of the core by reducing'the number of parts and cost of manufacture and at the same time to increase its gripping and releasing eiiiciency in and from the roll of paper or other material carried thereby.

One of the specific objects is to make the periphery of the segments cylindrical and of uniform area and to oppositely guide said segments in radial lines during the operation of expanding or contracting the core so as to produce a maximum frictional contact between the segments and roll concentric at all points with the axis of the operating shaft or spindle.

Another object is to provide simple means accessible at the ends of the core for positively locking the segments in their radially extended positions so as to relieve in a measure the pressure of the segmentsupon the expanding cams which might tend to shift the cam and loosen the core in the roll.

A still further object is to provide simple means for preventing relative axial movement of the segments and operating means including the shaft and cams.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. t3, llRt.

Other objects and uses will be brought out in the following description.

enlarged longitudinal sectional views of the same core taken on line 3-4c, Fig. 2, except that the core is shown as expanded in Fig. 3 and as contracted in Fig. 4. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged cross sectional views taken on line 5 6, Fig. 1, except that, in Fig. 5, the core is expanded and, in Fig. 6, it is contracted. Fig. 7' is an enlarged sectional view taken "ion line 7 7, Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the central portion of the core showing a modified means of holding the adjacent portions of the segments against, sag 'ng.

As illustrated this core comprises a plurality of, in this instance three, cylindricalv segments -1- of uniform size, arranged in parallelism uniform distances apart/(around the axis of a shaft or spindle -2-` each segment being provided intermediate its ends with a plurality of, in this instance, three internal cam bearings -3-, which are engaged by the cam teeth of a corresponding number of cam collars -l-, the latter being rigidly 'secured by set screws ,5- or keys -6- or both tothe shaft or spindle -2 to rotate therewith.

These cores may be of any desired lebngth according to the width of the paper or other material carried thereby, the shaft -2- being centrally located therein and extended some distance beyond the ends of the segments so that the ends thereof are provided with journals adapted to be supported in suitable bearings at the ends of the segments for conveniently supporting the roll while the paper is being wound thereupon or therefrom, one end, as -7-, of the shaft being angular or square in cross section for the reception of a crank or wheel or other operating means by which the shaft may be rotated relatively to the other segments in the` operation of expanding or contracting the core in a. manner presently described.

The segments -1* are continuous from end to end and parallel with the axis of the shaft and their peripheries are circular in cross section and of a vradius equal approximately to the maximuln degree of expansion so as to afford a maximum gripping fricv paper roll at all points throughout their surfaces, thereby forming a circular 'opening through the center of the rolls which permits the core to be more easily inserted into and withdrawn from said roll.

The cam bearings -3- are secured by rivets 3- or other suitable fastening means to the inner faces of their segments -1- and4 are spaced uniform distances apart, the outermost bearings being located some distance inwardly from the ends of the segments to permit the use of special forms of locking and guiding devices hereinafter described, each bearing being'provided at its ends with inwardly projecting radial flanges -8+ of uniform radial depth adapted to engage opposite ends of their respective cam collars -lto keep the cams in registration with the bearings and also to assist in holding the segments -1- and their expanding means, such as the shaft -2 and cam collars -4-, against relative endwise movement. The opposite ends of the segments -lare provided with internal guide members 9 rigidly secured thereto by rivets --10-` or equivalent fastening means, each guide member -9- being provided with an inwardly projecting axially extending lock-stop -11- spaced some distance apart from the inner face of the segment -1 for cooperative engagement with a guide ring -l2 and shaft -2-, to limit radial movement of the segments -1- and also to cooperate with a locking collar-13- on the shaft to hold the segments in their expanded relation.

The sleeves 12- are loosely mounted on opposite ends of the shaft within the corresponding ends of the segments -1- so that the shaft may be turned therein, but are held lagainst endwise or axial movement between the inner ends of the guide members 9- and stop collars -14-, which latter are held in their adjusted positions by set screws 15- to the shaft -2- and assist in holding the segments -1- and shaft -2'- against relative endwise movement through the interposition of the sleeves -12-l between the collars -14 and guide members The guide members -9- are slidably interlocked with the sleeves l2- through the medium of guide ribs -17- which are slidably fitted 1n recesses or grooves -16- in the adjacent ends of the guide members The space between the stops --1l-- andouter annular flanges of the adjacent rings -12- is sufficient to allow the desired radial movement of the segments -1 corresponding approximately to the throw of the cam teeth of the cam collars -4 I have shown each cam collar as provided with a plurality of, in this instance three,

cam teeth 4'- apart cireumferentially and terminating in abrupt end faces adapted to normally contact with the adjacent flat sides of the ribs or bearings -3- when( the segments of the core are contracted as shown more clearly in Fig. 4 in which case the ends of the segments abut against each other. These cam collars `1-, which are secured to 'the shaft -2, constitute the means for expanding the core by forcing the segments 1M radially and outwardly uniform distances by reason of the fact that the cams are all of the same throw, it being understood that when the segments are released by the return of the cams to their normal lpositions, the pressure of the paper upon the segments will tend to force them inwardly aided by their own weight which causes them to move to the limit of their inward movement when elevated above the horizontal plane of the axis of the shaft, the relief from pressure or frictional contact with the paper being sufficient to permit the entire core to be withdrawn when desired. A

The means for locking the segments in their extended positions consist of the eollar -13- which is slidable axially upon the shaft into and out of position between the ange *11- and periphery of the shaft, the combined thickness of the collar A 137- and stop -llbeing substantially equal to the radial distance between the periphery of the shaft and inner face of the an- 'nular flange of the ring -12- so that when the collar l-3* is adjusted to its locking position, it firmly holds the segments against inward movement, thereby relieving in a measure the pressure of the segments upon the faces of the cams -4-, it being understood that the collars -13- may be held in their locking positions by suitable means as set screws 18-. On

the other hand when it is desired to release and withdraw the core, sary to loosen `the set screws 1S- and withdraw the collars -13- from within the flanges -11- and then to rotate the shaft `2 until the low points of the cams -4- are registered with their respective bearings -,-3-, whereupon the segments will be released from engagement with the paper and permit the entire core to be Withrawn or reinserted at will.

Suitable means is provided for preventing the sagging of the central portions of the core-segments under their own weight away from the shaft 2- particularly when the cores are of considerable length, and for this purpose the cam bearings -3- at or near the center of the core are provided with axially projecting flanges ,-8- litting within an annular iange-QO- of a collar 2lwhich is Aloosely mounted on the shaft 2` to allow the latter to turn it is simply necesspaced uniform distances menate therein and is held against outward endwise movement by a stop screw Q2- as shown in Fig. 3 or by a separate collar -23- as shown in Fig. 8, the latter being held in place by a set screw 2li- 'What li claim is:

l. An expansible and contractile core for paper and similar rolls comprising a shaft, radially movable segments of a cylinder surrounding the shaft and having inwardly projecting members, means actuated by the turning of the shaft for operating said segments, and collars slidable on the shaft across the inner ends of said members for holding the segments in their expanded relation irrespective of the cams.

2. fan expansible and contractile core for paper and similar rolls, comprising a shaft, cams tight on the shaft, radially movable `segments of a cylinder surrounding the shaft and provided withbearings resting on the cams, guide rings loosely mounted on the shaft independently of the cams, but adjacent thereto, coperative guide members on the segments and rings, respectively,` for guiding the segments in their radial movement and holding them in concentric relation to the axis of the shaft, and eoperative stops on the guide members on the segments and rings, respectively, for limiting the outward movement of the segments.

3. An expansible and contractile core for paper and similar rolls, comprising a shaft, cams tight on the shaft, radially movable segments of a cylinder surrounding the shaft and provided with 'bearings resting on the cams, guide rings loosely mounted on the shaft independently of the cams, but adjacent thereto, coperative guide members on the segments and rings, respectively, for guiding the segments in their radial movement and holding them in concentric relation to the aXis of the shaft, cooperative stops on the guide members on the segments and rings, respectively, for limiting the outward movement of the segments, and locking collars slidable on the 'shaft across the inner ends of the guide members on the segments forholding said segments in their expanded relation.

4. An expansible and contractile core for paper and similar rolls comprising a shaft, a plurality of segments of a cylinder of uniform size arranged about the axis of the shaft, cam bearings on the inner faces of the segments, cams secured to the shafts and engaging said bearings for moving the segments radially as the shaft is rotated relatively to the segments, guide anges for keeplng the cams and bearings in registration, stop collars adjustably secured to the shaft near the ends of the segments, rings abutting against said collars, radially sliding interlocking connections between the segments and sleeves, and means for locking the segments in their outermost positions.

lin witness whereof li have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of January, 19M.

A CHARLES E. MllSlER. Witnesses:

F. E. ROBERTSON, W. J. SHEPARD. 

